Just found out that the movie "Genius" is playing in select theatres. (I looked it up and there are only two theatres that are showing this in the Atlanta area. Looks like I will see it when it makes it to TV!) It is based on the book by A. Scott Berg about Max Perkins, the publisher of Thomas Wolfe. If you would like to read an article about this, then I have a link for you at one of my very favorite magazines, "The New Yorker", you may read it just here.
Max Perkins had a great problem in getting Thomas Wolfe to edit his writing (as you can see from the following clip.) Me thinks that J.K. Rowling could have used a Max Perkins! (I do like the Harry Potter books but come on, those last ones were just way too long. I am sure my son would disagree with me and perhaps many of you, but this is my belief. I just bet Max Perkins would agree with ME!)
This film looks very much like one I would like to see. Funny thing, most of the actors are from either England or Australia! Colin Firth plays Max Perkins and Jude Law plays Thomas Wolfe. ( I have read criticism of the Southern accent that Jude Law tries for, but personally, I think it is quite good. Thomas Wolfe from that time period would have sounded quite differently than the accents we hear today.)
Now, may I just say...COLIN FIRTH...wow, he is just an incredible actor, truly! If any of you see this film, let me know what you think. As I said, I am sure I will have to wait and see it on TV!
I CANNOT wait to see this! My kind of film.
ReplyDeleteLet me know if you do and what you think of it!
DeleteI had not heard of this movie! Will definitely watch for it in theatres here because I lurves me some Colin Firth!
ReplyDeleteMe too, Debra! And my mother-in-law loves him so, that folks will cut out photos of him and put the photos on her birthday cards! :-)
DeleteOh... Jude Law is not in the clip... he is one of the very few fair-haired men I like, in fact, I've always had a bit of a soft spot for him.
ReplyDeleteColin Firth certainly knows what he's doing, doesn't he!
OH, I realized I put the wrong one on there! I have changed it and you can see and hear Jude Law now, and honestly, his accent is very good!
DeleteOh, boy....I love that book!!!! And I would love to see this movie...and I will see this movie! :)
ReplyDeleteGlad to tell you about it! I will let you know about the website that I found it from in a future post. (Had not seen one thing about it on TV.)
DeleteSomeday it will be on Netflix, i'm sure. Until then, i'll have to read up on it.
ReplyDeleteThese days, it comes out rather quickly on Netflix, so hopefully, we can see it soon!
DeleteI try to see anything Colin Firth is in. He is incredible. Mamma Mia and The King's Speech come immediately to mind.
ReplyDeleteI liked him in both of those but don't forget to look out for him in "The Railway Man"!
DeleteI do like Harry Potter but I agree really. The first ones were too simple and the last ones were too long and complicated. A good editor would have done Ms Rowling a world of good. I hope you do get to see Genius. It's a shame you won't get to see it in the cinema.
ReplyDeleteFinally! Someone agrees with me that J.K. could have used some editing! I am not too bothered about not seeing a movie at the theater these days. It must be because I am getting older, but it is easier to watch it on TV in the comfort of my own home.
DeleteHi Kay.
ReplyDeleteNever read the H. P. books but have seen all the films on TV. A good editor/publisher can work wonders but they are a dying breed nowadays with so much online competition.I will look out for the film.
Witch World-by Andre Norton (first six books)was the 1960s equivalent of Harry Potter and is very well written as I read them again recently and still enjoyed each book individually. In them she set out many of the gold standard devices for fantasy/ science fiction classics that are still being used today. Outlander, Harry Potter, and almost every science fiction novel story-line borrows from her imagination and plot devices from over 40 years ago. Also Cleopatra by Margaret George. Two American writers that deserve similar recognition to JK but it's all about capturing mainstream attention and popular culture momentum from the outset.
Cleopatra is outstanding and a great read at over 1000 pages long...and worth every single sentence :o)
OH, I just looked the books up that you mention and they look very interesting! I hardly ever read novels these days, even historical ones. I read one review that the Cleopatra book was very long but that the reviewer felt sad once the book was finished. That is when you know it must be a good book!
DeleteTo be honest they are not books that I have read so I know nothing of the author. However it does look like a films I'd want to watch.
ReplyDeleteI hardly ever read novels, but in my younger, could read the biggest books around kind of days, I could read any novel on offer. Thomas Wolfe was a genius. Even if you don't know his books, you should read about his life which was a very interesting one.
DeleteI certainly will not want to miss this movie. I'm a fan of Colin Firth. He's a versatile and talented actor.
ReplyDeleteColin Firth is dreamy, isn't he? I think he is a great actor and very easy on the eyes too! :-)
DeleteMy husband grew up in Asheville and did his undergrad English Honors Thesis on Thomas Wolfe. Can't wait to see the movie. Not only are we fascinated by Wolfe, we are also fascinated by Maxwell Perkins.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to have found your blog.
I love the North Carolina mountains, they are not too far from me! And I hope you get to see this movie, let me know what yo think!
DeleteAnd thanks, glad to find yours also! :-)